News

ATRI Survey Shows Disparate Concerns for Drivers and Carriers

by
Charlotte Freed
| Nov 09, 2018

The American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) most recent annual survey polled both drivers and carriers on their top concerns and the results are telling. While carriers listed the driver shortage as their biggest issue, drivers listed hours of service. ATRI president, Rebecca Brewster, urged carriers to take more consideration of driver’s concerns if they really care about the driver shortage, saying “you’d better care what’s on that driver list of issues.” The top two issues for carriers were the driver shortage and driver retention; if they turn to driver’s viewpoints and needs, those issues may become less of a problem.

Truck parking follows hours of service as a main concern, followed by the ELD mandate. The fourth most pressing issue to drivers, interestingly enough to some, is driver distraction. While truck drivers may consider other motorist’s distraction as being more of a worry, carriers are likely to think in terms of distracted truck drivers rather than other motorists.

Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) ranked equally for both drivers and carriers at number six on the list. Automated trucks also ranked as a top ten issue for drivers while it didn’t even make the list for carriers. While the technology has a long way to go, drivers are considering how it may impact their futures.